Syracuse's punter received a lovely present from head coach Scott Shafer on Saturday — a scholarship starting in January.

"We are extremely pleased to put Riley Dixon on scholarship," Shafer said in a statement. "He has earned it."

Dixon has two years of eligibility remaining, so the scholarship should keep Syracuse's punting situation in reliable hands through the 2015 season.

Dixon, who played football at Christian Brothers Academy, was one of Syracuse's biggest breakout performers, rising from second-string behind Jonathan Fisher at the start of the year to become one of the team's most reliable contributors by the finish.